Rebecca Jean Fink (néeSmallbone; born 26 July 1977), known professionally as Rebecca Jean or Rebecca St. James, is an Australian Christian pop rock singer-songwriter and actress. She began performing in Australia in the late 1980s and released her first full-length studio album in 1991. She was signed to ForeFront Records in 1993, releasing her major label debut the following year.

Rebecca St. James was born Rebecca Jean Smallbone on 26 July 1977, in Sydney, Australia to parents David and Helen Smallbone.[1] She moved to Nashville, Tennessee, after her father's job relocation, in 1991, where she was raised with a sister, Libby, and five brothers, Ben, Dan, Joel, Josh, and Luke.[7]

On 20 October 1998, St. James released her third studio album, Pray, which debuted to mixed reviews.[18][19] The album managed to chart at No. 168 on the Billboard 200, and No. 5 on both the Heatseekers Chart and the Contemporary Christian Chart.[18] The album won a Grammy in 1999 for Best Rock/Gospel Album,[18] and, in 2006, it was RIAA-certified gold for selling over 500,000 copies.[14]

In 1999, St. James released a song titled "Yes, I Believe In God" to radio only, in memory of the lives lost at the Columbine shooting. The song was later released on the album Wait for Me: The Best from Rebecca St. James.[20] Also in 1999, St. James released a video on VHS titled No Secrets featuring interviews of her and her family, behind-the-scenes footage and the music video for the song "Pray".[21] In addition to her own projects, St. James took part in a CD release titled Heaven & Earth: A Tapestry of Worship, which featured female Christian artists such as Nichole Nordeman and Jennifer Knapp. The album was released in November 1999 and features two songs by St. James; "As We Wait" and "River of Life".[22]

Transform, Worship God and Wait for Me: The Best from Rebecca St. James (2000–2004)[edit]

On 24 October 2000, St. James released a brand new album titled Transform. The album charted at No. 166 on the Billboard 200, No. 7 on the Heatseekers Chart, and No. 14 on the Contemporary Christian Chart.[23] The album garnered positive reviews[23][24] and featured the songs "Wait for Me" and "Reborn". Also in 2000, St. James made a cameo in the film Left Behind: The Movie. A year later, the devotional book, 40 Days with God was re-released with a new layout and five new devotions.[25]

On 26 February 2002, St. James released the album Worship God. The album debuted to extremely positive reviews[29][30] and charted at No. 94 on the Billboard 200, marking St. James' first Top 100 album, and No. 5 on the Contemporary Christian chart.[30] She released a DVD to promote the album 19 November 2002, that featured music videos, interviews, etc.[31]

On 25 March 2003, after 10 years with ForeFront Records, St. James released her first compilation project, Wait for Me: The Best from Rebecca St. James, which features 16 of her most popular songs and two new ones,[32] including "I Thank You" which managed to peak at No. 2 on Billboard's Hot Christian Songs chart.[33] The album failed to make the Billboard 200, but charted at No. 16 on the Contemporary Christian chart.[32]

On 24 February 2004, St. James released her very first live album titled Live Worship: Blessed Be Your Name which features 7 new songs and 2 studio recorded songs. The album charted at No. 187 on the Billboard 200 and No. 12 on the Top Christian Albums chart.[34] Later that year, St. James released a compilation album titled The Best of Rebecca St. James, and her book SHE: Safe, Healthy, Empowered: The Woman You're Made to Be.[35] Also in 2004, St. James starred in the stage musical !Hero as a modern day Mary Magdalene aka "Maggie".[36] St. James later lent her voice to the VeggieTales episode An Easter Carol as Hope the Music Box Angel.[21] She also took part in a pop/rock VeggieTales album titled Veggie Rocks!. She covered "The VeggieTales Theme Song" for the album.[37]

If I Had One Chance to Tell You Something, film debut, and aLIVE in Florida (2005–2007)[edit]

Rebecca St. James performing at the Higher Ground Music Festival in August 2005

After taking a hiatus from recording music, St. James returned to the studio in early 2005 to record new songs. On 24 October 2005, the first single from the album, "Alive", was released.[38] The song managed to chart at No. 3 on R&R's CHR Chart[3] and No. 13 on Billboards Hot Christian Songs Chart.[39] The new album, titled If I Had One Chance To Tell You Something was released on 22 November 2005. The album debuted to fairly positive reviews.[40][41] It charted at No. 14 on Billboard's Top Christian Albums Chart, but failed to make the Billboard 200.[41]

On 1 July 2005, St. James released a Teen Edition of her book, SHE[42] and on 1 October 2005, she released another book titled Sister Freaks: Stories of Women Who Gave Up Everything For God.[43]

In early 2006, St. James embarked on her If I Had One Chance To Tell You Something Tour with fellow Christian group BarlowGirl.[44] She also recorded the theme song for the National Day of Prayer. The song was titled "America" and was released to iTunes on 2 May 2006.[45] She also recorded a cover of Chris Tomlin's song "Forever" for the album WOW Worship: Aqua.[46] The same year, ForeFront Records put together a compilation album titled The Early Years, that covered ten songs from her earliest releases: Rebecca St. James, GOD and Pray.[47]
Aside from music, St. James made her major character film debut in Unidentified as Colleen in 2006.[48]

In 2007, ForeFront Records took live footage and recordings from the If I Had One Chance... Tour and released a CD/DVD collection on 20 March titled aLIVE in Florida. The album features 14 live songs and an exclusive remix of "You Are Loved".[49] The album charted at No. 43 on Billboard's Top Christian Albums Chart.[49] At the time of the album's release, it was announced that St. James has sold over 1.8 million albums to date.[3]

In the midst of a musical hiatus, ForeFront Records put together a two-disc compilation album titled The Ultimate Collection which was released 11 March 2008.[50] Another compilation titled Greatest Hits was released later that year on 18 October 2008.[51] On 3 September 2008, St. James released another book titled Pure: A 90-Day Devotional for the Mind, Body, & Spirit.[52]

In late 2008, St. James announced she would star as the lead role in a new film titled Sarah's Choice, which was released to DVD on 17 November 2009.[53] The film also features a song by St. James titled "Little One".[54] The song was released almost two years later on 2 September 2011.[55] The film received good reviews from Christian movie critics.[56][57]

Although on musical hiatus, on 16 April 2009, St. James released a new song titled "You're Alive" to iTunes[58] as part of an album titled Resurrection Worship: Songs of Hope. Then, in June 2009, she released another new song titled "Wish" to her MySpace page.[59] Aside from these brief musical endeavors, St. James' book Loved: Stories of Forgiveness was released on 1 September 2009.[60]

On 19 August 2009, Christian Cinema reported that St. James had wrapped up filming a new movie titled Rising Stars, which was released on 22 October 2010.[61] On 28 April 2010, it was announced that St. James is working on another film titled Frontier Boys,[62] and a book titled What Is He Thinking?, both to be released in 2011.[needs update][63] It was also later announced that she will star in a film titled Suing the Devil,[64] which was released in August 2011.[needs update]

On 19 October 2010, St. James released her version of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" on the album The Essential Christmas Collection.[65] On 18 November 2010, St. James announced that she had parted ways with ForeFront Records and would be releasing a new worship album in April 2011 via Beach Street/Reunion Records. Her ninth studio album, I Will Praise You, was released on 5 April 2011. It was preceded by the single "Shine Your Glory Down", which was released to Christian radio on 11 February. The album was met with positive reviews from Christian music critics and was highly successful, debuting at No. 18 on Billboard's Hot Christian Albums chart and later peaking at No. 9. It also peaked at No. 153 on the Billboard 200, her highest charting effort after Worship God.[66] Her ninth book, What Is He Thinking?, hit shelves on 26 September 2011.[67][68]

On 16 June 2011, it was announced that St. James would be starring in a new romantic comedy film titled A Strange Brand of Happy, which was released on 13 September 2013. The film revolves around a single Christian life coach Joyce who falls for an agnostic client.
The movie began filming on 15 August 2011 in Cincinnati,[69] and was released on 13 September 2013.

On 12 March 2013, St. James announced via Facebook that she was currently publishing her first Christian novel titled The Merciful Scar, co-authored with Nancy Rue.[70] It was released on 10 September 2013. She also narrated the documentary Mother India: Life Through the Eyes of the Orphan, which was released on 23 April 2013.[71]

ForeFront Records released a new compilation album on 7 January 2014, titled Icon (titled Best of Rebecca St. James in the iTunes store).[72] Her second novel, Sarah's Choice, an adaptation of the 2009 film of the same name in which St. James starred, was released on 27 May 2014, while her third novel, One Last Thing, was released on 10 March 2015. Both books were co-authored by Nancy Rue.[73]

Faith of Our Fathers, released in July 2015, features St. James portraying a car-stealing Australian hitchhiker.[74]

St. James is originally from Australia and moved with her family to the United States at age 14. She currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee.[78] Two of her brothers, Joel and Luke Smallbone, formed the band For King & Country.[79]

On 3 January 2011, she announced her engagement to Foster the People's former bassist Jacob "Cubbie" Fink, a Colorado native and a missionary to South Africa.[80] Fink proposed on Christmas Day 2010 at St. James' family's farm in Franklin.[67][81][82] They married on 23 April 2011, at the Junípero Serra Museum in San Diego, California.[83] On 4 October 2013, St. James announced that they were expecting their first child[84] and on 18 February 2014, she gave birth to their daughter Gemma Elena Fink.[85][86]